Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Bleeding Fool

Bleeding Fool

Regarding the Double-Standard on “Sexualizing” Superheroes

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 06:45 AM PDT

 

Since Wonder Woman’s film came up in discussion a short time ago, I was researching older film articles on the 2017 adaptation, and this Larsen on Film review of the 2017 Wonder Woman movie caught my eye as something with a double-standard on how a woman’s sexuality should be portrayed as opposed to a man’s:

 

[…] These warriors' elegant, slow-motion spins, which frame the action on the screen in ways that resemble comic-book panels, are all about empowering rather than sexualizing the women. Throughout, Jenkins' camera largely regards Gadot the same way. (The sexualizing is saved for Pine, who later gets naked while recovering from his injuries in a cavern pool.)

 

So if women are sexualized, that’s bad, but sexualizing men is okay? I’m sorry, but this is taking an awful risk of insulting the intellect, and pretty embarrassing. Though it does give a clue what’s wrong with some left-wing feminists directing film in the USA: they don’t have the confidence to deal with nudity in a two-sided approach.

 

 

I also thought to take note of this NPR discussion of the mostly unsuccessful Justice League movie that’s equally annoying, though it does hint at a disadvantage the DC movieverse has in contrast to Marvel’s:

 

CIARAN HINDS: (As Steppenwolf) This world will fall like all the others.

MONDELLO: Exactly like all the others in fact, which is part of the problem. When Marvel does this sort of thing, there’s a lightness that has mostly eluded the folks in the DC cinematic universe. Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman got the tone right last time, which suggested things were looking up. But without director Patty Jenkins around, she’s subject to the dismissive male gaze for which Hollywood’s long been criticized. At one point, the camera fixes on Gadot’s leather-clad derriere as she’s talking to one of her co-stars, and you think, given Tinseltown’s rep these days, who thought that was a good idea?

In fairness, Aquaman’s abs are equally fetishized when they aren’t being obscured in murky underwater footage. Jason Momoa’s debut as Aquaman is not done any favors by the special effects team, nor is Ezra Miller’s Flash, who’s speediness is treated visually as if it’s entirely a matter of static electricity. Happily, his patter is also speedy, and he gets plenty of self-deprecating laugh lines.

 

 

Oh, for heaven’s sake! That in itself is not a reason to complain, and besides, where were people like these when Joel Schumacher did something similar to Batman and Robin in the 1997 movie? Besides, if Gadot didn’t have an issue with the scene in the JL movie, then what’s the big deal?

 

YouTube Video

 

This runs the gamut of lecturing an adult actress in the process. If they’d made an argument that it doesn’t hold up well based on Joss Whedon’s past conduct, assuming he’s the one who thought of this scene (let’s remember Zack Snyder has his edition too), that might’ve born a workable argument. Whedon has, after all, come under scrutiny for bullying actors on set, whether the allegations are true or not. But to make such a superficial argument here based on a “gaze” that women could also possess dumbs everything down to petty issues. There are past directors who specialized in sex appeal, far back as the time of Marilyn Monroe, and if they could handle it well, there’s others today who could too.

 

Maybe these details are why the former film won’t hold up well in history, while the latter’s already fumbled for other reasons. If these film writers really believe what WW was built on by William Marston is such a problem, they shouldn’t even have bothered going to the auditorium.

 

Originally published here.

The post Regarding the Double-Standard on “Sexualizing” Superheroes appeared first on Bleeding Fool.

ABC News Seeks Independent Investigation into Sexual Assault Claims

Posted: 01 Sep 2021 05:49 AM PDT

 

Last week, ABC News President Kim Godwin indicated she would request an independent investigation into how the TV network handled sexual assault allegations against a former "Good Morning America" senior executive producer, on a call with newsroom employees, according to an employee who was on the call.

 

The call come a day after Kirstyn Crawford, a producer on the show, sued the former senior executive producer, Michael Corn, and ABC in New York state court, alleging that Corn sexually assaulted her during a 2015 business trip to Los Angeles.

 

 

ABC did not respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit or investigation. Corn denied engaging in improper sexual conduct with another woman. Godwin’s comments and the lawsuit were first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

 

The lawsuit also accuses Corn of assaulting a former ABC News producer, Jill McClain, on two occasions in 2010 and 2011. Because the statute of limitations for McClain's claims have expired, the action says, she is included in the lawsuit in support of Crawford.

 

 

The lawsuit alleges that ABC, which is owned by Walt Disney Co knew, or should have known, about the sexual harassment and failed to take corrective action for many years. In a statement provided by his lawyer, Corn said: "I vehemently deny any allegations that I engaged in improper sexual contact with another woman.

 

“Kirsten (sic) Crawford's claims are demonstrably false — and I am providing contemporaneous emails to prove it. … I will be pursing (sic) all available legal remedies against these women and defending myself vigorously."

 

According to the lawsuit, ABC learned of Corn's alleged sexual assault of Crawford as early as 2017 and "looked the other way," elevated Corn through the ranks and "facilitated the hostile workplace that Corn cultivated through his influence over subordinates' careers, sexual harassment, gaslighting, and anger management issues."

 

 

ABC conducted an internal investigation into Crawford and McClain’s allegations after they made a formal complaint in February, according to the lawsuit, and terminated Corn in April. ABC did not provide a reason for Corn's departure when he left the company, according to the employee who participated in last Thursday's call.

 

The allegations follow a long series of cases of sexual misconduct or harassment involving men in entertainment, the news media and government, some of which sparked the #MeToo movement.

 

 

(via Reuters – reporting by Helen Coster in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

The post ABC News Seeks Independent Investigation into Sexual Assault Claims appeared first on Bleeding Fool.

Comic Review: Mirka Andolfo’s Red Sonja #1 (v6)

Posted: 31 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Red Sonja Vol6 #1

 

 

Industry icon Mirka Andolfo is bringing Red Sonja fans an all-new vision for the She-Devil With A Sword, in another new ongoing series from Dynamite Entertainment. Our story begins in a village on fire, set by members of the dreaded Three-Eyed Shezem. When Red Sonja arrives, the only survivor of the flame is a lively child with curious white tattoos. The child will become Sonja’s travel companion, on a journey from hardened ice to imposing forests, where dangerous secrets wait to be revealed.

 

 

Impression Of Mother, Part one

Mirka Andolfo starts off her Red Sonja run on a bit of a slow note. With some nonlinear storytelling at the beginning, readers are given the set-up for Sonja’s goal. Once established, the majority of the issue slow burns all the way to the finale pages. That slow burn though offers readers a look at Sonja in a more maternal light. Sonja has interacted with many people, creatures, and magical entities before, but when she is caring for a child it feels different and actually leaves you wanting more.

 

This is a Red Sonja title, so calling this story a slice of life would be wrong, but it dips it toes in through the middle of the issue. The art direction by Giuseppe Cafaro and Chiara Di Francia comes off as very neutral. The writing is a song, but the art doesn’t really carry along with it. Both are good, but nothing in this issue stands out artistically or catches the eye.

 

 

Final Verdict

Red Sonja is a title of action, but Mirka is starting off her run with far less action than Sonja fans have come to expect, and focuses on a more interpersonal touch between Sonja and the child. To some this may come off as boring and uninteresting if they are reading this for the action. However, it opens up a door for Sonja to take up a new position as a maternal figure.  I found it intriguing and would recommend this for anyone looking to see Sonja in a new light, but not so much if you’re more interested in the brutal action Red Sonja comic book fans have come to expect.

 

If you’d like to purchase this title yourself you can do so here or check with your LCS

The post Comic Review: Mirka Andolfo’s Red Sonja #1 (v6) appeared first on Bleeding Fool.
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